Toccoa sets date for Toccoa Train Day as May 1
The City of Toccoa has announced the date for Toccoa Train Day as May 1.
The railroad has been an important part of the history of Toccoa and to honor this history, the City of Toccoa has planned several events to celebrate Toccoa Train Day.
The first event of the day will be to welcome the Amtrak Crescent Line this year at 6:15 a.m. at the historic train depot.
Anyone unable to attend can tune-in to WNEG to listen live as the train arrives.
Visitors getting off the train will be welcomed with bags of information about Toccoa and then several will get on the train and ride it to Gainesville and hand out information to the riders.
The Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon tying at the depot at 10:00 a.m., as a celebration of the work that has recently been done by Amtrak as well as the work that has been done at the Welcome Center.
Northeast Georgia N Scale Model Railroad Club will have a train display in the Mitchell Allen Room at the Currahee Military Museum.
The display will be open from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. There is no entrance fee but do request that everyone wear a mask.
Throughout the day, there will be drawings for several prizes including round trip tickets to Atlanta.
Attendees can register that morning at the Train Depot.
The rail line was completed in the town of Dry Pond, later changed to Toccoa City, in 1873 to connect Atlanta, Georgia and Greenville, South Carolina.
In 1878 it became known as the Elberton Air Line Railway connecting Toccoa to Elberton.
The rail line through Toccoa City created a conducive environment for developing, allowing for buildings to be constructed downtown.
In 1917, a double rail track was laid, eventually giving permit for trains to travel ever 15 minutes day and night during World War II. Over the years, thousands have come to Toccoa by way of the railroad.
Today, the City of Toccoa is serviced by Amtrak and Norfolk Southern Railway and is one of three stops in Georgia along the Crescent line.